U.S. patent number 3,976,046 [Application Number 05/591,306] was granted by the patent office on 1976-08-24 for attache grill.
Invention is credited to Paul S. Morton, John H. Rossio.
United States Patent |
3,976,046 |
Morton , et al. |
August 24, 1976 |
Attache grill
Abstract
A portable charcoal burning grill comprising a first open top
receptacle and a first cover therefor pivotally secured thereto and
movable between open and closed positions and a second open top
receptacle and second cover therefor pivotally secured thereto and
pivotal between open and closed positions relative thereto, the
second open top receptacle and the second cover therefor being
mounted inside the first open top receptacle. A holding device is
provided for holding the second cover in the open position when the
first cover is also in the open position. A food holding grill is
removably engaged with the second cover when the second cover is in
the open position and extends over the second open top receptacle.
A charcoal holding grid is provided in the second open top
receptacle and adjusting means are provided for permitting an
adjustment of the vertical spacing between the food holding grill
and the charcoal holding grid. The second cover, when in the closed
position, serves to extinguish the coals in the second open top
receptacle.
Inventors: |
Morton; Paul S. (Kalamazoo,
MI), Rossio; John H. (Portage, MI) |
Family
ID: |
24365961 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/591,306 |
Filed: |
June 30, 1975 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/9R; 126/25C;
126/25A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
37/0763 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
37/07 (20060101); A47J 037/00 (); F24B 003/00 ();
F24C 001/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/25A,25R,25C,9R,9B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sprague; Kenneth W.
Assistant Examiner: Joyce; Harold
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill,
comprising:
means defining a first open top receptacle and a first cover
pivotally secured thereto and movable between open and closed
positions relative thereto;
fastener means for fastening said first cover of said first open
top receptacle in a closed position to define a carrying
structure;
means defining a second open top receptacle and a second cover
pivotally secured thereto and movable between open and closed
positions relative thereto, said second open top receptacle means
and said second cover being mounted in said first open top
receptacle means;
holding means for holding said second cover in said open position
and in a position of use;
food holding grill means removably engaging said second cover when
said second cover is in said open position, said grill means
extending over said second open top receptacle; and
charcoal holding grid means in said second open top receptacle.
2. The device of claim 1 including also adjusting means for
permitting an adjustment of the vertical spacing between said food
holding grill means and said charcoal holding grid means.
3. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, wherein said second receptacle means is smaller in
dimension than said first receptacle means to define a first
storage space in said first receptacle means.
4. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 2, wherein said first receptacle means has a bottom wall and
four upstanding sidewalls;
wherein said second receptacle means has a bottom wall and four
upstanding sidewalls; and
wherein said one of said sidewalls of said second receptacle is
horizontally spaced from and parallel to one of said sidewalls of
said first receptacle means and perpendicular to a pair of
laterally spaced sidewalls on said first receptacle means to define
said first storage space.
5. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 3, wherein said second cover and said first cover are
generally parallel to and vertically spaced from each other in the
closed position to define a second storage space.
6. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 5, wherein said food holding grill means includes collapsible
engagement means, said collapsible engagement means when in a
position of use engaging said second cover and when in a collapsed
position and out of engagement with said second cover facilitating
a placing of said food holding grill means in said second storage
space.
7. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises a bracket mounted on
an inside surface of said first cover, said second cover engaging
said bracket and being held in said opened position.
8. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, wherein said charcoal holding means comprises a container
having a perforated surface thereon received in said second
receptacle means, a bottom wall of said container being vertically
spaced from a bottom wall of said second receptacle means.
9. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, including a flexible cover carrying case having cut-out
means thereon; and
including a carrying handle mounted on said first receptacle means;
and
wherein said first receptacle means, when said first cover is in
the closed position, housing said second receptacle means therein
is received in said carrying case and said handle is exposed
through said cut-out means.
10. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, including collapsible leg means mounted on said first
receptacle means to space a bottom wall of said first receptacle
above a supporting surface.
11. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 10, including heat shield means between said bottom wall of
said first receptacle means and said supporting surface, said heat
shield means being receivable inside said grill for transportation
purposes.
12. A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill according to
claim 1, wherein said second cover is secured to one edge of second
receptacle by a separable hinge construction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a charcoal burning grill and, more
particularly, relates to a portable charcoal burning grill having a
charcoal burning receptacle mounted within a carrying receptacle,
both receptacles having covers therefor with the cover for the
charcoal burning receptacle being adapted to extinguish the heat
source when in the closed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable charcoal burning grills have been known for many years and
have proven to be quite successful for use in outdoor cooking
around the home and on camping sites. Portable grills which are
also collapsible for transit purposes are also known. However, a
need has long existed in a portable-type charcoal burning grill for
minimizing the number of components which must be assembled before
a cooking operation can be started and for providing storage space
within the closed and portable assembly for holding cooking
instruments as well as the food holding grill components.
It has long been desirable to be able to pack the cooking apparatus
neatly and compactly away. However, with presently known grill
constructions, it is not possible to easily dismantle the outdoor
cooking apparatus, place same within the carrying receptacle and
still have room for the cooking utensils. If cooking utensils are
stored within a portable-type charcoal burning grill, such as the
apparatus illustrated in Skarsten U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,691, the
cooking utensils would necessarily come into contact with the
cooking surface defined by the grill. As a result, the handles of
the cooking utensils would become covered with grease and the like
thereby requiring cleaning before the further handling thereof.
Further, and particularly under camping conditions, it is desirable
to be able to dismantle the outdoor cooking apparatus and store
same without being concerned about the cooking apparatus being
tipped over during transit and spilling residual ashes over the
other camping equipment. While it is recognized that a normally
careful user would dump the ashes from the outdoor cooking
apparatus prior to its being packed for transit purposes, if the
device is complicated to assemble and disassemble, the camper may
choose not to dismantle it after every use and, as a result, the
ashes which have become caked to the firepan would become dislodged
and spilled onto other camping equipment.
Further, known portable charcoal burning grills do not have a
pleasing appearance when in the collapsed condition and ready for
transport from one position to another and are particularly awkward
to handle.
Accordingly, the objects of the present invention include:
1. To provide a portable charcoal burning grill which includes
means for extinguishment of the heat source;
2. To provide a portable charcoal burning grill, as aforesaid,
wherein the components of the grill are all adapted to be received
within a base receptacle member and covered by a cover capable of
being fixedly secured to the base receptacle member to permit the
charcoal burning grill to be conveniently transported from one
location to another;
3. To provide a portable charcoal burning grill which, in a
position of use, comprises a charcoal holding grate for holding
charcoal during a cooking operation and, when the cooking operation
is completed, the food holding grill is removed from the supporting
structure to permit a cover to be placed over the open top of the
charcoal holding receptacle to suffocate the burning charcoal for
extinguishing same;
4. To provide a portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill
which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to assemble and
disassemble and has the pleasing appearance of an attache case when
in carrying condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the objects and purposes of the invention are met by
providing a portable charcoal burning grill which comprises means
defining a first open top receptacle and a first cover therefor
pivotally secured thereto and movable between open and closed
positions relative thereto and means defining a second open top
receptacle and a second cover therefor pivotally secured thereto
and movable between open and closed positions relative thereto. The
second open top receptacle means and the second cover are mounted
in the first open top receptacle means. Fastener means are provided
for fastening the first cover to the first open top receptacle in a
closed position to thereby provide a carrying structure. Holding
means are provided for holding the second cover in the open
position of use and a food holding grill means is removably engaged
with the second cover when the second cover is in the open position
and said grill extends over the second open top receptacle. A
charcoal holding grid is provided in the second open top receptacle
and adjusting means are provided for permitting an adjustment of
the vertical spacing between the food holding grill means and the
charcoal holding grid means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my portable charcoal burning grill
in the position of use and located next to an envelope into which
the portable grill structure is placed when the unit is closed;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of my portable charcoal burning
grill;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG.
5;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--V of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of my portable charcoal burning
grill with the envelope surrounding the grill structure;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the envelope surrounding the
grill structure; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII--VIII of FIG.
2.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for
convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words
"up", "down", "right" and "left" will designate directions in the
drawings to which reference is made. The words "in" and "out" will
refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the
geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such
terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned,
derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A portable and collapsible charcoal burning grill 10 comprises an
open top receptacle 11 having a plurality of upstanding walls, here
two laterally spaced walls 12, a front wall 13 and a rear wall 14,
and a bottom wall 15. The upper edge of the two laterally spaced
walls 12 and the front wall 13 are bent inwardly as at 16 and
upwardly again as at 17 to define a generally horizontal surface
18. A pair of retractable legs 19 are each pivotally secured to a
lateral wall 12 and movable between a position illustrated in FIG.
3, for example, and a position illustrated in solid lines in FIGS.
4 and 5. Each of the legs 19 is generally L-shaped in cross section
and embrace, in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4, for
example, the lateral walls 12 and the bottom wall 15 of the
receptacle 11.
A cover 21 comprises a top surface 22, a pair of laterally spaced
walls 23, a front wall 24 and a rear wall 25. The laterally spaced
walls 23, the front wall 24 and the rear wall 25 each extend
downwardly from the top surface 22 at the periphery thereof. The
lower extremity of the laterally spaced walls 23 and the front wall
24 engage the generally horizontal surface 18 on the receptacle 11.
A hinge 20, such as a piano hinge, pivotally secures the upper edge
of the rear wall 14 of the receptacle 11 to the lower edge of the
rear wall 25 on the cover 21.
A handle 26 is secured to the front wall 13 of the receptacle 11 at
a generally central location thereon. Two laterally spaced pairs of
conventional and cooperating fastening devices 27 and 28 are
secured to the front wall 13 of the receptacle 11 and the front
wall 24 of the cover 21, respectively, to permit a securement of
the cover 21 in the closed position over the open top of the
receptacle 11.
An upstanding wall 31 is spaced forwardly from the rear wall 14 of
the receptacle 11, is secured to the bottom wall 15 and is secured
to and extends between the two laterally spaced walls 12. The upper
edge of the upstanding wall 31 terminates at a height about equal
to the height of the hinge 20 from the bottom wall 15 of the
receptacle 11. Thus, the two laterally spaced walls 12, the front
wall 13 and the upstanding wall 31 define a second receptacle 32
inside the first receptacle 11. A cover 33 is hingedly secured by a
hinge, such as a separable hinge 34, to the upper edge of the
upstanding wall 31. The cover 33 comprises a top wall 36 which
overlies the opening into the receptacle 32, a pair of laterally
spaced upstanding walls 37 and an upstanding front wall 38, both of
which project upwardly from the top wall 36. The upper edge of each
of the laterally spaced walls 37 has a plurality of notches 39
therein. The upper edge of the front wall 38 has a rearwardly
extending flange 41 thereon to define a grip under which the user's
fingers may be placed to assist in the raising of the cover 33 from
the closed position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the raised
position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
A notch 42 (FIG. 8) is provided in the flange 41 in the central
area thereof. In addition, a small hole 43 is provided through the
front wall 38 adjacent the notch 42. The purpose of this structure
will be explained in detail hereinbelow.
The cover 33, when in the closed position, engages, along the two
laterally spaced walls 12 and the front wall 13, a horizontal lip
46 (FIGS. 4 and 5) defined by an L-shaped angle piece 47, the
corner 48 of which is received in the inside corner defined by the
inward bend 16 on the laterally spaced walls 12 and the front wall
13. The lateral edge of the wall 36 of the cover 33 engages the lip
46 along the three sides thereof.
A charcoal holding grid 51 is received in the second receptacle 32.
The charcoal holding grid 51 is comprised of a sheet of perforated
heat-resistant metal 52 which is bent along the peripheral edges to
form a container 55 having four upstanding sidewalls 53. A pair of
laterally spaced upstanding walls 53 of the container 55 are
secured to a pair of laterally spaced upright support members 54
which engage the bottom wall 15 of the second receptacle 32 and
effect a spacing of the bottom wall 56 of the container 55 from the
bottom wall 15 of the second receptacle 32. An inwardly extending
flange 57 is provided at the upper edge of each of the support
members 54 to facilitate a removal of the charcoal holding grid 51
from the second receptacle 32.
A bracket 58 is secured to the inside surface of the wall 22 of the
cover 21. A resilient clip 59 is secured to the bracket at one end
61 and is resiliently flexible away from the bracket 58 at the
opposite end 62 (FIG. 8). When the cover 21 is in the open position
as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 8, the end 62 of the resilient
clip 59 is received through the hole 43 in the front wall 38 and in
the notch 42 in the flange 41 on the cover 33 to secure the cover
33 and the cover 21 in the opened position. As a result, the
notches 39 in the laterally spaced walls 37 on the cover 33 are
vertically spaced from one another as best illustrated in FIG.
3.
A food holding grill 66 is made up of at least two longitudinal
wire members 67 and a plurality of wire cross members 68 weldably
secured to the longitudinal wire members 67. The lateralmost wire
cross members 69 each have a wire bracket member 71 pivotally
secured thereto. Each wire bracket member 71 is comprised of a
plurality of hinge segments 72 and a hook-shaped member 73
receivable in a notch 39 in the cover 33. The rearwardmost
longitudinal wire member 67 engages the inner surface of the wall
36 of the cover 33 at a location which is spaced below the location
at which each of the hook members 73 are received in a pair of
horizontally aligned notches 39. Since the wire bracket members 71
engage, at the hinge segments 72, the food holding grill 66 at two
spaced points, namely a point adjacent the forwardmost edge of the
food holding grill and a point adjacent the rear edge thereof, the
food holding grill 66 is thereby supported in a cantilevered manner
on the cover 33 above the charcoal holding grid 51. The food
holding grill 66 can be easily removed from the cover 33 and the
wire bracket members 71 pivoted so as to become parallel to the
plane of the food holding grill 66.
A vertical spacing 76 exists between the wall 36 of the cover 33
and the wall 22 of the cover 21 when both covers 21 and 33 are in
the closed position. The vertical spacing 76 defines a first
storage chamber. Similarly, the horizontal spacing between the rear
wall 14 of the first receptacle 11 and the upstanding wall 31
defines a second storage space 77, the depth of which corresponds
to the depth of the first receptacle 11.
A sheet of asbestos 78 or the like may be positioned, if desired,
beneath the bottom surface 15 of the grill 10. The sheet of
asbestos 78 has a dimension which is smaller than the dimension of
the first receptacle 11 to facilitate a placement thereof inside
the first receptacle in the first storage space 76 along with the
collapsed food holding grill 66 (FIG. 5). The sheet of asbestos 78
serves to protect the supporting surface for the grill 10 from the
radiated heat from the bottom wall 15 of the second receptacle
32.
In order to enhance the appearance of the portable grill as a total
product, an envelope 79 is provided which has an opening 81
therein. A plurality of cooperating snap fasteners 82 and 83 are
provided adjacent the upper edge surrounding the opening 81. The
size of the envelope 79 is generally slightly larger than the outer
dimension of the first receptacle 11 and cover 21 when the cover 21
is in the closed position and the cooperating fastener elements 27
and 28 are united to hold the cover 21 in the closed position. A
portion 84 of the envelope 79 adjacent the upper edge having the
cooperating snap fasteners 82 and 83 thereon is foldable so that
the cooperating snap fasteners 82 and 83 become overlapped to
facilitate a fastening together thereof to encase the charcoal
burning grill therein. A pair of cut-outs 86 are provided in the
upper edge of a pair of sidewalls of the envelope so that the
handle 26 will be exposed when the envelope fully encases the
charcoal burning grill 10. The fully encased charcoal burning grill
10 is best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and has an appearance of an
attache case.
OPERATION
Although the use of the charcoal burning grill embodying the
invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with this general
type of apparatus, the use of the charcoal burning grill will be
described in detail hereinbelow for convenience.
The charcoal burning grill can be set up in a position of use by
first unlocking the cooperating snap fasteners 82 and 83 and
pulling the charcoal burning grill 10 from the envelope 79. Next,
the legs 19 can be pivoted from the solid line positions
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the broken line position. Next, the
cooperating fastener elements 27 and 28 can be unfastened and the
cover 21 pivoted about the hinge 20 to move the cover 21 to the
fully opened position thereby exposing the contents in the first
receptacle 11. The collapsed food holding grill 66 and the asbestos
sheet 78 may now be removed from the first storage space 76 on top
of the cover 33 for the second receptacle 32. The asbestos sheet
78, if used, is placed in a position beneath the bottom wall 15 of
the receptacles 11 and 32 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The
cover 33 is next pivoted about the hinge 34 to move the cover 33 to
the fully opened position. The covers 21 and 33 are orientable to a
position wherein the end 62 of the resilient clip 59 will be
received in the hole 43 in the front wall 38 and the notch 42 in
the flange 41. Thus, the two united covers 21 and 33 will be locked
together and incapable of relative movement therebetween. In this
position, the laterally spaced walls 37 on the cover 33 will be
generally vertically aligned and the notches thereon will become
vertically spaced.
The wire bracket members 71 on the food holding grill 66 are now
pivoted so that each thereof becomes aligned with the laterally
spaced walls 37 on the cover 33. The hooklike members 73 are
received in the desired notch 39 and the rearmost longitudinal wire
member 67 engages the inner surface of the wall 36 of the cover 33
so that the food holding grill 66 becomes cantilevered over the
second receptacle 32. Assuming that charcoal or the like has
already been placed in the charcoal holding grid 51, ignited and is
now ready for cooking, food products and the like may be placed on
the food holding grill 66 and cooked to the desired extent.
At the completion of the cooking operation, the food holding grill
66 may be removed from engagement with the cover 33 and the cover
33 disengaged from the cover 21 so that the cover 33 can be pivoted
about the hinge 34 to close the second receptacle 32. Since the
peripheral edges of the wall 36 of the cover 33 engage the lip 47,
the charcoal is thus suffocated and extinguished. When the entire
unit has cooled, the food holding grill 66 in the collapsed
position and the asbestos sheet 78 may be placed on top of the
cover 33 in the first storage space 76. Additional cooking utensils
such as tongs, forks, spatulas and turners or the like can be
placed into the second storage space 77. Thereafter, the cover 21
can be pivoted about the hinge 20 to the fully closed position and
the cooperating fastening elements 27 and 28 may be fastened
together. Thereafter, the charcoal burning grill 10 can be placed
back into the envelope 79, the cooperating fastening elements 82
and 83 becoming fastened together so that once again the portable
charcoal burning grill has the appearance of an attache case.
The separable hinge 34 is provided to permit a removal of the cover
33 for cleaning purposes. That is, the cover 33 can be removed to
facilitate a cleaning of the second receptacle 32 as well as the
remainder of the grill unit.
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has
been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *